I had to admit defeat

Yep, the weenybago has gone to the vehicle hospital
Basically done as much as I can myself, im sure the head gasket needs sorting, all the tests say no but there's nothing left to do!
Been quoted between £300 - £600, I've been using this mechanic for years and has always been pretty reliable he's done the heads on a few of the small vans so at least he knows what he's letting himself in for!
Always get good service from him, I think it helps that he thinks I'm a bit mad and possibly feels a bit sorry for me!
So, I'm just waiting nervously for the phone call now

Make sure he doesn't bin the head gasket!!!

Get some pictures of it up on here so we can see where the breach point is for future reference.

p.s. I'd replace a few bits while doing it as money wise they are insignificant compared to what labour is going to cost you:-

Water pump £35
Thermostat £10
New Radiator caps £5 each
Fan belt £5

Plus I would take the metal top pipe off the van and check it everywhere for rust, if you need another one I have a spare one, although I will need one if it helps you out you can have this one for £20 - but i'll have to take it off and fully inspect it to make sure its worth having. I have 3 in total, but 2 are definitely rotten.

oo, yeah i was gonna ask what youd sugest getting replaced!!

hes gonna look at the caps for me and see what he can find that fits better, the top of rad is worse because of the plastic being worn, but thinking ill need a new one soon anyway, will get one made and have a bleed valve put on the top

top pipe? the one with the cap on under the seat? if so mines in good nick,

and yeah, i asked him to keep all packaging of any new bits used, forgot to ask him to keep everything thats taken off and replaced, he always used to for me but ill remind him!

HighlyJetted wrote:p.s. I'd replace a few bits while doing it as money wise they are insignificant compared to what labour is going to cost you:-

Water pump £35
Thermostat £10
New Radiator caps £5 each
Fan belt £5

Plus I would take the metal top pipe off the van and check it everywhere for rust, if you need another one I have a spare one, although I will need one if it helps you out you can have this one for £20 - but i'll have to take it off and fully inspect it to make sure its worth having. I have 3 in total, but 2 are definitely rotten.

Definitely.

marvelous, just took the dogs for a quick walk and came home to find the kitchen flooded and fuses tripped, the washing machine has broken with a full wash in it and the living room rug which was going to be washed next cos the incontenant dog leaked on it is soaking wet on the floor next to it, lovely, like im going to be able walk that to the launderette, so if i pay to fix the van... ill have no money for a washing machine

Sometimes your the pigeon, some days the statue.

Bad luck, Daisy. It's not only the washer going, it's all the inconvenience too. Hope you get a break and job on van turns out to be a lot cheaper than you fear.

Leak in your washer could be something simple - a tear in the door gasket, holed or perished drain or fill hose, possibly blocked pump - you might be able to sort it yourself. In the meantime, be thankful your local launderette is there, all year round, just waiting for you to have a problem!

Knickers.........
Yes, a pair of my (good!) knickers got cought up in the inlet pipe and pushed it off the drum.... Had to take out the front panel and other bits to get to it ... But it's fixed... Hopefully.... Needless to say the knickers are no good now!

Well done! Not only the satisfaction of not paying a guy to repair it and you saved that money, PLUS the cast of a new machine, but next time you have a problem the knickers front panel will come off in no time!

Yeah, I did have someone come round to fix it years ago.... It wasn't draining.... There was a pair of knickers such in the drain pipe! .. At least they were clean... And he did show me how to take it apart incase it happened again... Seems my knickers get up to alsorts left unattended

So was it a huge big granny blockage or a wee skimpy blockage?

Skimpy and lacy ;-)
Seems my knickers are getting more action than me!

Maybe you should leave them off more often!

PFM wrote:Maybe you should leave them off more often!

Haha, in this weather? I'll get a chill!

Don't go freezing your nuts off just yet.